India on shaky ground

Mike Marqusee writes in the Guardian that as per the laws of cricket today, racist abuse is of special magnitude and if Harbhajan Singh did call Symonds a monkey, then it was absolutely neccessary for Ricky Ponting to lodge a formal complaint and for Mike Procter to punish Harbhajan accordingly.

Racist insults poison the game for players and spectators alike. They demean not only the opponent but an entire branch of the human family. Crucially, they have repercussions beyond the playing field. When one player abuses another's racial or ethnic origins, he both expresses and legitimises one of the most potent anti-social toxins at work in the modern world.

Following his strongly-worded article in which he called for the sacking of Ponting, Peter Roebuck has now written that the Indian team is also on shaky ground. He writes in the Melbourne-based Age:

India has a right to demand a second hearing, but it is hardly fit and proper for the entire tour to shudder to a halt in the meantime.

By skulking in hotel rooms the tourists stand in danger of losing public sympathy. Of course vociferous fanatics will remain loyal but only fools play to that gallery. The players should have continued with an admittedly idiotic itinerary. After all, Kumble's comments were made in the longer term interests of the game. Imperilling matches hardly serves that purpose.